Matt Slick Live

The following program is recorded content created by the Truth Network. It's Matt Slick Live. Matt is the founder and president of the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry, found online at Carm.org. When you have questions about Bible doctrines, turn to Matt Slick Live for answers, taking your calls and responding to your questions at 877-207-2276. Here's Matt Slick.

All right, everybody, welcome to the show. It's me, Matt Slick. You're listening to Matt Slick Live. If you want, you can give me a call. It's easy.

877-877777777777 Two zero. 72276. I know that some people are. Are sweating a little bit. I cut it close, getting on the show today.

I get involved in these projects and then I just kind of forget where I'm at. And that's what I was doing. I'm working up on a uh A sophisticated form thing where you can fill out a form. for debate to debate me. And it's got like over 100 questions in it and under different sections.

So that it's just affirm, deny, or unsure, and sometimes there's blocks to fill things in, and you can. I'll just pull them in and submit them. And then I get to see them and uh decide if I'm gonna debate or not. Because you know, a lot of times in uh in debates, I won't know what the person believes in certain areas. I have to ask during the debate, and this is just to make it easier.

Say, hey, look, if you want to tell me what you. you know I just wonder what your bigger position is now and um So, that we don't have to waste time going through all that kind of stuff.

So, that's what I was working on, and kind of lost track of time because I made a breakthrough on something really kind of cool. Like, oh, that would work really nicely. Yeah, so that's what that is. All right. Having said that, having said that, if you want to give me a call, it's easy, 877-207-2277.

76. I want to hear from you. Give me a call. You can also, if you are interested, you can send an email to info at carm.org. Info.

At CARM.org. You can send an email there. We have nobody waiting right now. I do want to hear from you. Give me a call.

And um I got some ideas I've been thinking about, and maybe I'll mention them here. Because I've been thinking, I've been doing some serious thought about what direction to kind of move in. Since my wife passed away, there's been a lot of stuff up in the air and dealing with that. And we're starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. We've got numerous problems solved.

We've got a couple of big ones left. And I could take more time to solve. Um end of your stuff and um Some donations issues and things like that. I'm going to be working on those, so I'll just let you know. But I'm thinking about setting up a debate series.

And seeing if people are interested in debating me on varying topics, very narrow topics, where we either have formal debates or we have just discussions. And maybe one or two minutes back and forth kind of thing. There's different ways of doing discussions to slash debates to see if people are Up to that kind of a thing. And also, thinking about doing an interview setup where I find people who have all kinds of different views and stuff, and I interview them. See what their positions are.

Now, I haven't decided if I'm going to debate them on it, argue with them, or say, well, that's interesting. Let's say, for example, I was talking to a Mormon. And a Mormon is telling me that what Mormonism says, what I would do is ask clarifying questions: Are you saying this? Are you saying that? And they say, Well, you know, we disagree, and etc., and see how that goes.

So it's something I've been thinking about, and I'm not sure how to pull that off yet. But you know, you gotta think, you gotta you gotta work with ideas. And that's what I'm trying to do: figure that out. While. Oh man.

While I work on trying to catch up with everything, because we don't have. enough funds to hire somebody who's kind of like a gopher. Which we really do need. We need a gopher, just a person who can just do all kinds of stuff, who likes to solve all kinds of problems. And the way it is now, we have all kinds of individuals doing varying things, which is fine.

And So we're trying to work through all of that. It's just really good. We've got a lot of good people who are helping us here at Carm. God's provided, but we do need more dedicated stuff and things. But anyway, I'm just kind of rambling right now.

All right. Whew Man, so there you go. All right, all right, and I think we'll do now. Is get the phone number out again and then we'll get on the air. I'll be just gonna be done with a caller.

Um, if you want to give me a call, all you could do. Is dial 877-207-2276. You can also send me an email. And send that too. Info at CARM.org, info at carm.org.

The subject line, radio comment, radio question. Let's get to. Andrew from North Carolina. Andrew, welcome. You're on the air.

Hey. I was wondering. Have you did you get a chance to listen to the Democrats' response to the President's State of the Union address? A particular Democrat, or the Democrats as a whole, or you mean the thing they did while the State of the Union was going on?

Well, I didn't listen to it except for the blurb that I saw on the local news. It was by the Virginia governor, I believe.

Okay. The woman?

Okay. Yeah, she was a blondhaired lady and What seemed to be troubling to me is that The blurb that they gave from her. She stated Are you really better off now than you were four years ago? He is. Kind of parallelism to the whole devil and the Garden of Eden thing.

I heard a little bit about that. I did see a clip, and I thought it was atrociously bad. I remember that. Yep. Yeah.

Yeah. It just seems so much like she's playing in that Devil's Minion role. Yeah, um Yeah. Yeah, i you know what's interesting is when these politicians try and cite God's word. and use it in their favor.

And It's so very rare that they they use it properly. They are arrogant. Liars, so many of them. and they will say whatever they can to get power and control. And I d I don't trust them.

I think the Democratic Party is uh pretty much a a uh terrorist organization. It promotes the stuff contrary to constitution. It promotes ungodliness. It promotes homosexuality, the LGBT mob. It uh promotes uh you know killing of the unborn, it um promotes socialism, it uh attacks our our traditions, it attacks our families, it attacks religion.

This is the kind of stuff you you want in a country if you want to destroy the country. The Democrats are right there. And the Republicans, sorry, I used to be a Republican, but I left that party. They Let's just say they were the Democrats. They now are where the Democrats were 50 years ago, kind of thing.

Weak knee. And they're not much, they're better, but not much better, if you know what I mean. That's my opinion.

Okay. Yeah, a lot of times I just have to hold my nose and cast my ballot. Yes, um Well, let me ask you this. What do you think of the Iran things going on with Trump doing this? What do you think?

I think it's not pleasant, but it needed to be done. You know, that's a very good way to put it. It's not pleasant, but it needed to be done. I saw a clip where Trump um Listed out what Iran had done in the past 40, 50 years, whatever it was, and how they had killed so many people and how they'd destroyed lives, how they had held hostages, sponsored terrorism. And uh it's about about time.

Get rid of them. They've attacked Christians. I mean, they've attacked the United States in different ways in its interest.

So, defending ourselves by getting rid of them. That's how that's how I see it. Yeah. Yeah. Alright.

Just kinda wondering about that whole uh Virginia Governor quote I'm not even sure I'm not even sure if you knew but from the Bible. I think she just might have come up with that because it was written a speech writer voted for her. It might be. It might be. It used to be in the early constitutions of each of the thirteen states.

back in the day, back in the seventeen hundreds. that you had to I think it was in all of them you had to have a um Be a Christian. a a a church member Christian in order to hold any office. And Then they removed that as the United States formed. But now we have atheists in, Muslims in, And we have people who just don't believe in God.

the Constitution. A lot of them do, but you know, I know believe in God, but. It's just bad. Our country can't survive. Cannot survive this way.

Right. They can't. Mm. It gives us gives us more reason to be on our knees every now and then more than we where we when we already are. Yeah, and you know, the Dems and the Dems side tried to take out Trump twice.

And I've heard that they're trying or they're. rumors I've heard, um different news outlets that Some of the Democrats are trying to find another way to impeach him again. You know, it's what what is wrong with these people? What is wrong with the Democrats? Seriously, they're mental.

They're evil. They remind me a lot of middle school children. Yeah. They don't have a better way of doing something, they just want to complain about what's being done. Yeah.

And then at the State of the Union, they would even stand and applaud for stuff. It's like, are you kidding me? You should be up and applauding for that. and yelling at the president. Golly.

I believe or I suspect we're going to head into Civil War. There's going to be civil war, going to be skirmishes of people. I know that the, and I don't want that either, I don't want it at all. But I know that people on the left now are arming themselves. Have you heard about that?

I have not.

Well They specifically are arming themselves and you know, I I get information from different places, different sources and stuff like that. When you start hearing the same thing a few times, you start wondering, is it true or not? It doesn't mean it is just because you're hearing this. But when you start, you know, okay, this this group here, this group, this are. And I have some indirect connections with stuff, but The the Coming down the the the road here is the that they're arming themselves are prep prep they're preparing so uh I don't know.

I don't know. You know, people want this country destroyed. All over the world, they want it destroyed. Why do they want it destroyed? Because we're prosperous.

And we represent Christ as a spiritual battle. And not we represent Christ as a nation, but a lot of times Christianity here is what the promo predominant religious affiliation is. And so the enemy wants America destroyed because then they get communism and socialism, which is so oppressive all over the world. And. Have you heard about I'm just rambling here you know, the social uh credit score from uh China.

They're trying to implement things like that here in America. And have you heard about what's coming with the new cars and new vehicles? how you have to have subscriptions to use your your starter. You have to have subscriptions to um To use like a sunroof or whatever was, I forget some of the things. That if you want to use, you have to, you know, radio, you have to have subscriptions for your just normal FM radio.

I don't know the exact list, but there's things like this that are coming up and also setting it so that in your own vehicles they can turn your car off. they can throttle your engine back if certain certain things aren't paid up. on vehicles you've already paid for and own. You've heard about that. Wow.

No. Uh-huh. Yep. And why would they be doing that? Uh So let me see if we find a list here.

Some of the things they're doing, I was researching that a little bit. Why are they doing that? Why are they trying to control us in details? And um In Massachusetts, I was watching a a thing in Massachusetts, they're starting to push the idea of restricting how many miles you can drive. for the safety for your safety and for uh Oh.

global climate protection.

So that they restrict what you can do. Yeah. You try to make the best of what you got now. Yeah, it is to control others. That's right.

So some of the car stuff, uh remote start. via res a smartphone. That's been around for a while. Advanced driver assistance systems. Hands-free highway driving.

You have to have a subscription, things like this, other things. Like what is going on? They're trying to nickel and dime us and ultimately use these things to control our vehicles, transportation. Pretty soon they can start doing it on our banks. playing with what we can and can't do and spend on for our safety.

Anyway. Stuff. All right, we're out of time, better. God bless, man. All right.

Okay. Yep. Hey folks, we're right back after these messages. Please stay tuned. Be right back.

It's Matt Slick Live, taking your calls at 877-207-2276. Here's Matt Slick. Hello, Roderub and welcome back to the show. If you would like, you can give me a call. We have two open lines: 8772-0722-76.

Let's get on the air with Janet from North Carolina. Janet, welcome. You're on the air. Hey Matt, how you doing? Doing all right, hanging in there.

Hanging in there. Good, good, good. Glad to hear that. I have a I don't I kind of want just to get your take on something. Um, I've been uh attending a church for probably the last uh year and a half or so, I guess.

And I haven't. officially become a member or anything like that, but I was still considering it. Um last Sunday Unfortunately, they had a situation with the the lead pastor and they had to remove him from He's an office because of um from sin that he had to deal that was involved. Um so um I think my question is more like Yeah.

Okay. I had a good experience at this church. I'm still enjoying it. I enjoy the people that are there and all of that. But how do we move forward in a situation like that?

Well it's easy. It's good.

So the elders appropriately removed a pastor who was in sin, whatever that was. They did that. That's appropriate.

So they did that. That means there's a good spiritual work going on there.

Now, as long as you don't have women pastors and elders and things like that. And I don't yeah, you don't teach other heresies, but Then, what you do is you just pray for the transition, you pray for the people in the church, you pray that the elders who fill in the pulpit, and they should do that. or the guest preacher comes in, or guest preachers you pray for that situation, you pray for them, you pray for the pastor who is removed, that he would be reconciled wherever appropriate and forgiveness would be obtained. And And whatever that is, you know, if you just don't know, you just pray very generically. And uh you stick things out and and you just work through and And that's it, and hopefully, things work out.

I know of a church locally where the pastor was removed for very serious sin. Very. and he'll be doing jail time for it. And so, oh, yeah, and rightfully so. And uh, It has to do with imagery.

bad stuff imagery. And um so uh Yeah. Are filling in, and I've been to a couple services, and you know, they did okay. In their preaching, they're okay. And and it's okay, you know, they're doing their job, and that's what they're supposed to be doing.

And so, um You just should be supportive that way. Which all got open doors. Yeah. Yeah. That's good.

Well, well, I'm glad you mentioned all that because all of those things are taking place and they even have some kind of after care for the the pastor that is has been removed for he for him to deal with whatever the situation is, you know.

So It could be also a very good learning situation for members of the congregation to see how church discipline is enacted, forgiveness is enacted. Fidelity to scripture is enacted. This is also very good to teach, to learn from. We don't go to church just to hear a sermon and just to sing some songs and get doughnuts. we go because we want want we we want to be equipped in varying levels and God often can teach through difficulties and through uh stresses and strains like that.

They can do it. That's true. The other question I had, too, pertaining to the same situation, is how do we how do we build trust? How can we discern whether the next person is Okay or not. You know what I mean?

Well, again, you just pray that God brings in the right person, and then you it's always worth learning. uh what's going on. I I recently have come under some Information, come to us some information about a church situation. where I think that after A pastor is has been there. You learn from that pastor who left.

For whatever reason, you learn certain things that need to be addressed and asked of the next potential pastor.

So learn. And so, whatever the issue was, these issues would need to be raised, maybe, depending on what it is, to the next pastor who's being interviewed. But You know, one of the things I could do is is actually develop a list of questions that people can uh ask pastors. There has to be theological, practical, familial. There has to be counseling things.

And it could be rather extensive. And I would love to be on a pastor committee picking a pastor. You know, it's when you got it all done grilling them. Then I want 'em. I got questions and see what he knows and really grill him because I tell you, I know what to ask.

Haven't been on both sides.

So And that's all, you know, just just work through it and pray for the situation and Come together with others and just see what God does and be blessed in the healing process, be blessed in the new pastor coming, how God's going to work things out. That's all. It's not that hard. Yeah. Okay, okay.

I was like, oh Say, oh wow. You know, this happened all of a sudden. I was just like, oh, well. But I thought it was the same thing. And I had, they had.

They brought it up this Sunday is when they mentioned the he he had been removed and then um they said anybody wanted to come up for prayer to talk about it after the service 'cause they knew it was a big deal. They were like, Well, you know, you can do that.

So I went up For prayer. And I liked what the guy told me. He was like, you know what? He goes, no man runs anything. You know, we're not serving man.

You know, even though there's a man in the pulpit, it's God that's that's the one that's going to be providing for us. And he said, we got to keep our eyes on him. He mentioned Peter when he walked on the water. He said, now, you know, Peter. Walked on the water as long as he was looking into Christ, but when he took his eyes off of it, he started sinking.

He said, you know, we have to do the same thing. I was like, you know what? I, yeah. I like that, you know. That's exactly right.

Yeah. I I heard a pastor once uh say And I don't I can't remember exactly how he said it, but it was along the lines of to the congregation to look. If another pastor comes in, you need to be so grounded in Jesus and the words of Christ that you don't really notice much of a difference. And you know, it was a a very generic kind of a statement, but we got what you meant. Our eyes need to be on Jesus, not the pastor.

And so many times. people lose their faith because the pastor did something bad. That's wrong. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I didn't want to do that.

Well, thank you so much, man. I feel a lot more comfort, you know, talking to you and talking to the other person about the situation and uh I think I'm more encouraged than anything, you know? Yeah, God has his way of working things out. In fact, you know, as an analogy, my wife and I, but you know, my late wife, but she and I would go through things together, and we got into the habit when something went wrong. You know, a bill came in, a car broke, whatever it would be, something didn't work out, we'd say, well, what's God going to do now?

We got to the point where we were trusting him and things worked out. We would just trust them and And see, like a friend of mine, here's a slow, low level. He went and got a deal on a computer at a store. He on sale and used, but on sale, and he got a good price when he went back home and. and even turn on.

They brought it back in. And they said, you know, we don't have any more electric. We'll give you a new one. They gave him a new one. for the price of what he got for an old used one.

And that's an example. Hey, it's not working, something's wrong. What's God going to do? And you trust and go forward. and oftentimes the blessings are there.

Okay. And then in the scripture it says all things work together for the good. You know, it doesn't say everything is going to be good, but it all works together for the good.

So we had that to look at. And nothing can separate us from the love of God.

So I'm so glad about that. But anyway, yeah, thank you so much, man.

Okay, you too. God bless. Thanks, Janet.

Okay, bye-bye. All right, we'll be back after the break. We'll talk to Peter from Texas and another caller coming in. If you want to give me a call, it's 877. 207 We'll be right back.

It's Matt Slick Live, taking your calls at 877-207-2276. Here's Matt Slick. All right, everyone, welcome back to the show. Thanks for staying. And at the bottom of the hour, if you want to give me a call, the number is 877-2073.

2276. Let's get to Peter from Texas. Peter, welcome. You're on the air. Matt Slake, sir.

Thank you for taking my call. Sure, man, no problem, buddy. What do you got?

So, this is actually my first time calling into the show, but I've been listening for a while, and believe it or not, Your website has been instrumental in the development of my knowledge and faith since I was a boy in middle school. And I'm in my 30s now with children. Good. I love hearing that. That's nice.

Thank you. I appreciate that. That's good.

Yes, sir. It was actually my father who introduced me to Carm at that young age, and he was a first-generation Christian, first in his family to lead the Roman Catholic Church. Um anyway. Before I get to my question, could I just say as well, you know, thank you for your faithfulness to the Lord and to the ministry all these years. I know you've been through a lot, especially recently.

So thank you and may God bless you and your family above all you can ask or think. Oh, that's nice. Really do appreciate that. And I'm glad that it's there for you and it's helpful. I'd just love to hear that.

So thanks. I really appreciate it. That's nice. Yes, sir. So, my question: I just came from the polls voting here for the Texas primary.

With all that's been going on in the political sphere in our country, And you know, of course in the Middle East, I was hoping to hear your thoughts on an issue that's been pretty divisive in the Republican Party, namely the support of Israel. the extent to which that support should go and how to defend our support as followers of Jesus and believers in the scriptures in an unbelieving world. I found it to be pretty tough in conversations with friends on this issue.

Well There's lots of things that we could talk about here in this respect. If they get upset about it, ask them what particular issues are they upset about. Always do particulars. A lot of times people will get upset generically because they might listen to liberal news or whatever news that just paints Israel as being evil just because it's Israel. And so you've got to find out in particulars.

It's just like T D S, you know, Trump derangement synd syndrome. They hate Trump, but they can't figure out why. And so there's that. But still. Israel is not perfect.

Israel certainly makes mistakes. But covenantally speaking we are supposed to support Israel. as Christians. And it doesn't mean we have to support them in every sing single thing that they do. And the Bible talks about supporting Israel.

If you support you, the Lord will bless.

So Even though Israel Let's just say it has made its mistakes. It's a nation. I mean, our country is not perfect either. Uh I would suggest that what Christians do is um Is how to put this is to understand the difference between covenant support. And individual item support.

God says in Genesis 12:3, and I'll bless those who bless you, and one who curses you, I will curse. He's talking to Abraham about this, and it's in the issue, he says, and all the families, and you will be blessed. And he says, God says in Numbers 24, 9, He couches, he lies down as a lion. As a lion, he dares arouse him, but blesses everyone who blesses you. Israel.

And then in Psalm 122.6, pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Lord prosper you.

So we see these things where God loves his people. He loves Jerusalem. He loves the nation of Israel. He gave them the land, the physical land.

Now I've had the pleasure of being able to go to Israel twice. and see the sights. It's been it's been really good.

Okay. So, covenantally, we need to, as Christians, pray for Israel's deliverance. Israel's strength. Israel's wisdom. Because it's still the nation of God.

Now some people say no it's not.

Well, what I can say to that is we go to Romans 11. Uh twenty let's see twenty-five For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, so that you will not Be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved. Just as it is written, it will bring from Zion, he will remove ungodliness from Jacob. This is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.

So God has covenanted with Israel and apparently He's not done with Israel yet.

So what does this mean for the Christian? Support Israel, believe in Israel, pray for Israel. Doesn't mean you have to support everything they do, which means becoming educated in what they do, but. Covenantally, God's not done with them, so don't work against Israel. Uh just Just be careful and and support them cautiously.

Covenantally. How about that? That's an amazing amazing thoughts and definitely really helpful for me. as uh it's that's a huge issue. Right now, a lot of podcasters, even on the Republican side, um are really split on this, and it's it's an intense debate.

But um For sure as a believer, you framed it really well. Romans 11, covenant. Support, believe, pray. Super, super helpful. Thank you.

And thank you for always pointing us back to the scriptures with every answer you give. Try to, you know, because you can't trust a reverend named Slick on the radio. You gotta go to God's Word, so gotta get that out.

Okay, that's what you gotta do. Yeah. So, and sometimes I'll say to people, you know, I'm 69, so I'm never going to get drafted. But let's just say some miraculous, weird thing happens and they want. All able-bodied guys in their 60s to go fight against Israel and say, I'm not doing it.

They said, We want you to fight against whatever country. It's like, okay, I can do that. But I'm not fighting against Israel.

Sorry, won't pick up arms against Israel. That doesn't mean I agree with everything, but I'm not going to stand against the nation that God has chosen to bless and elect. Right. Okay. Right, absolutely makes sense.

Yep, that's right. All the other ones? No problem. And if it came to it in this country, I would on my own ground, land, defend. and do what was necessary.

But I w I don't want to go fight Israel. Nope. Yeah. Nope. By doing it.

All right. Okay. Yes, sir. Thank you so much.

Alright, brother. Hope that helps.

Okay. Absolutely. Thank you. Alright. Well, God bless.

Okay. Keep listening, Peter. Really appreciate it.

Alright. All right. Oh, let's try this person here. Should be interesting, Patrick from Ohio. Patrick, welcome.

You're on the air. Yeah. Oh, different Patrick. Good. Hey, Matt, how are you doing tonight?

Good. Different Patrick. That's good.

All right, brother. I'm doing okay. What do you got, man? Hey, how are you doing? Yeah.

So my question is, do you think that Through my most recent studies, I came across a thought with pain sacrifice. And a part of me wondered if anything came. would have brought would have even been accepted since you brought it from the ground with this first. What are your thoughts on that? I think you've got a good point.

The ground was cursed and Cain brought it out of the ground. Plus, out of the ground is non-blood. And the flock is blood. And the proto-ungelia, proto-inglia, the first mention of the gospel. in Genesis 3.15, where he will bruise, you know, the heel.

And uh the Messiah is coming. we know that ultimately it's pointing to the cross.

Now when Adam and Eve were in the garden, the pre incarnate Christ came and covered them with animal skins. The implication is the bloodshed. typologically showing the necessity of shedding blood in order for forgiveness. Because it's going to point to the cross.

So, one of the main ideas is that Cain was not. offering the blood-based sacrifice, but something else of the cursed ground.

Now That's not The only option that that's there. but that's one of the main ones.

Okay. Okay, and then to just piggyback off that real quick, my pastor recently asked me to look at the story of. Cain and Abel against Aaron's two sons, against Ananias and Sapphira. And Look at the links between there, and there's definitely links in those stories. Um however Four of those people were smited right there and then, and one.

was not. Any thoughts on that? And then I'll That'll be my last question. Yeah, I'm not sure what to say 'cause I'm not sure about that. Uh Because I'm not sure what he means, what he's looking for to find those similarities.

The two sons of Abel, I mean, two sons of Aaron, Keenan Abel, and in an essence, Sapphira.

So They were United were killed. in X5 and um We can't enable of course the Genesis. three and um but I don't know about the two sons of Aaron.

So, but I'm not so anyway, I'm not sure what he's asking. Wh what what can you narrow it down a little bit?

So, from what I kind of gathered, it was that with all those instances got invited. all of them to come to be come close to him, to be right there with him. Um, and hold on, we got a break. We got a break something on, okay. I want to hear this when we get back because we're just gonna get a heart break.

Okay, so hold on, okay. Hey folks, we will be back in a couple three minutes. And if you want to, give me a call. The number is 877-207-2276. We'll be right back.

It's Matt Slick Live, taking your calls at 877-207-2276. Here's Matt Slick. All right, and welcome back to the show. Let's get back on with Patrick. Patrick, are you still there?

Yes, I'm still here.

Okay. So I guess a little bit the what I gathered from all those stories, there were all instances where God invited groups of people to come close to him with an offering and they all held back. To some extent, or they all kind of messed it up to some extent. King with his uh you know, the sons of Aaron, uh making a uh uh however you Decipher that passage, you know, wrong fire, wrong sacrifice, wrong time of day, etc., and then Ananias and Sapphira. Holding back a portion.

So it was all instances of. People coming to God, they were invited to give and they held back. But it was just I thought it was interesting that, you know, two of the groups were killed and then one was, you know, wasn't killed I guess per se immediately. Yeah. Yeah, you know, also there's a commonality in that they.

did not Understand the holiness of God. And so they compromised and were judged for it.

So they weren't approaching him properly with a reverence, fear, and awe. And respect that needs to be done. And so there's another way to look at it: they were judged. Appropriately. It's one of the things.

God is a terrible and terrifying being. but who's safe through Christ. And so we have to keep that in mind as well. Yeah, okay. All right.

Well, thank you very much. I appreciate it. Hey, no problem, buddy. No problem at all, man. I appreciate the call.

Alright, God God bless. All right, now, if you want to give me a call, we have three open lines: 877-207-2276. Let's get to Oscar. From New York, Oscar, welcome. You're on the air.

Yes, sir. Thank you. I'm studying Ephesians two, verses eight and nine. And I'm kind of puzzled. Is there two kinds of faith, a divine faith and a human faith?

That's one of the questions that's about this very text. And by grace, you have been saved through faith that not of yourselves as a gift of God. What? The faith is a gift of God, or the salvation is a gift of God, not as a result of works. And so there's been debates about this is the faith that God has.

And um It's just just so you know. That's something that has been discussed. And there's arguments on both sides. What I would say is by the grace of God you have been saved through faith. The grace is the unmerited favor of God, and salvation is being delivered from the righteous judgment of God.

And this is through faith. And it is not of yourselves.

Now, people might want to say, well, the faith is of yourself. No, it's not. And John. In John 6, 28, 29. They said to Jesus, what must we do to work the works of God?

And Jesus says, This is the work of God that you believe. On him whom he has sent. In Philippians 1:29. It says to you it has been granted to believe.

So God grants we have faith. And the faith that we have is in Christ, so it comes from God.

So by grace you have been saved through faith that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God.

Now, if we were to say the it is in reference to faith. That would make sense. If we were to say that faith or it references clear back to being saved, that would also make sense.

So both of them work. Generally, the antecedent, the it is, the antecedent, that which refers to. uh previous generally is the most cl is the closest thing. And that's the faith. Not always, but it can be like that.

And so Now, here we're looking at it. For by grace you've been saved through faith, that not of yourselves. What is not of yourselves? The salvation is not of yourselves.

Now, is faith of yourself?

Well, we could look at that too. God grants that we have faith and we do the believing. But it's not just generated out of ourselves, it's granted by God that we believe. In fact, if I were to go to John 1, 12 and 13, But as many as received him to them he gave the right to become Children of God. This is talking about being saved, okay?

To become those who received him, become children of God, even to those who believe in his name, who were born. Not of the blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man. but of God. What these verses are showing us is that the work of God in salvation is from Him, it's not us. And this is something that churches need to understand.

Yeah, churches need to understand this, that a lot of times people will say, Well, God knows he looks into the future to see who's going to pick him, and he'll pick them because he knows what the good they're going to do. That's heresy, that's false teaching. Or God knows what good things he can do with you. Oh, that's false teaching. Because in that you have a good quality, let me say it that way: that He knows how good you are, He can work with you because you're good.

That's a heresy. Of course, God can do good things with you because of who He is, not because of what you are. That's what I meant. And so We have to understand that by grace, the unmerited favor from God, you have been saved. Through faith, the faith that God grants to you.

Not of yourselves is the gift of God, and both the faith and the salvation are the gift of God. the work of God. Not as a result of works. Oh, yeah. Not by anything that you have done.

Yeah. Well, even the response is granted to us by God. He grants that we have repentance, 2 Timothy 2, 25. People don't understand the condition. that people are in.

The condition is that we're so bad. In our sins, we're dead in our sins, Ephesians 2:1. We're by nature children of wrath, Ephesians 2:3. No one seeks for God, no one does any good. Romans 3:10, 11, and 12 are by nature sinners.

Okay, they're sinners. They're made sinners by what Adam did, Romans 5.19. And in Adam all died, 1 Corinthians 15:22. They don't receive spiritual things, they can't understand or receive them. 1 Corinthians 2:14.

This is what the Bible says. And unfortunately, in so many churches today, I'm the one in my wisdom. I saw that I needed Jesus.

Well, the scriptures speak to the contrary fact. Jesus says in John 6:65, he says, You can't come to me unless it's granted to you from the Father. Jesus says this. And so For by grace you have been saved. The grace is originating in God's kindness in His holiness.

in His mercy and His love. is not based on anything in you. For by grace you have been saved through faith, that by the unmerited favor that God has bestowed, He has decided, He initiated. This isn't why you're saved, and that's through faith. And even that faith is granted to you by God.

And it's not of works. It's not of yourselves, even. Not of yourselves.

So, if the faith is the issue, that's not even of yourself. God grants that you have that faith, Philippians 1:29. In fact, Acts 13:48 says, As many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. They believe because they're appointed to eternal life. It's the gift of God, not as a result of works, not the work of anything that you do in regards to salvation.

Now, generally, what I think this is referring to is the gift is salvation. But if we were to say that the gift is referencing faith, it still makes sense, perfect sense, according to Scripture. And so there's so much in the Greek, and originally people don't know about. In fact, John 3:16, God so loved the world he gave his only begotten Son, whoever would believe in him, the word whoever is not there in the Greek. The word for whoever is host.

And what's really there is possibility, all the believing one. That's literally what it says.

So God shall love the world, not just Israel. Because you sent only to Israel, no one else. Matthew 15, 24. God's love the world. He sent his only begotten Son, that all the believing one.

would be saved. That's what it says. Yes. Yep. Okay.

That's right.

Yeah. And he does. And this is the theology that glorifies him. What I'm telling you is what glorifies. and there's too much theology from pulpits.

Jesus is the blondhaired, blue eyed, Caucasian surfer dude dressed in a woman's nightgown, asking permission for you and your wisdom to let him in.

Okay? You gotta let me in. Everything follows grace. Everything follows grace. Everything.

Everything is by the grace of God.

Now, we do, however, once we're regenerated, once we're saved. once were indwelt by God and justified by faith. Then we do actively pursue our relationship with Christ. And so we seek to be not like him. We seek to be more like him.

And that's what's going on. And so, yeah, we do participate in that, and it will help us get a reward in heaven or loss of reward in heaven. But our participation in our sanctification, being set apart for holy use, that does not affect our salvation. Because it's from God.

So, when we keep the Ten Commandments, we please God. We please God by keeping the law. It's right. We please God by keeping the Ten Commandments, but that's not what saves us, it's not what keeps us saved. Right, right, right.

All right? That makes sense.

Okay. Okay, thank you very much. That is appreciated. Thanks.

Okay, bye-bye. Okay, God bless. Bye. All right. So folks, I hope that was helpful.

It's something I've had to teach countless times to people over the years. It's just this needs to be taught from the pulpit on a regular basis. it humbles the hearer. It humbles them. It causes the believer then to to think about what God has done, not how good you are.

not in your wisdom, not in your ability. You're saved by grace. Completely. Phew completely. That's it.

Imagine God's sitting there, and there's a bunch of people, all of mankind, off to one side. He's not even looking at them. He's not even paying attention. And he just decides he's going to save people out of that group. He hasn't even looked at and examined yet.

And he just reaches over and grabs one, goes, ew. He grabs another, ew. It's not because of anything in them. Not because of what he could see you do, not because, Oh, in this circumstance he sees how great they'll be, or under the right circumstance they'll pick him. That's a load of crud.

It's just it's dirt. It's just false doctrine. Just get rid of that. Flush it. It's no good.

But this was taught all over the place.

Okay. So I try and teach people that uh You know, biblical theology is there, and you've got to trust it. Here's one quick thing: a lot of people make a mistake, too. It says in John 3.3, Jesus answered and said to the Pharisee Nicodemus, Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Well It actually literally is born from above. That's what it literally says, born from above. It's not really born again. It's the Greek word is anothen. and it deals with the noting from above.

That's what it means. And people don't know that, and I don't know why so many translations just say born again, it should be born from above. born from the spiritual work of God. If that was how people understood, are you born again? It should be, are you born from above?

It changes the perspection the perspective. But that's what it is, a nothen, of place from above, from a higher place. That's what it's referring to. Anothan, number five zero nine in the strong concordance. And then let's go to 1 Peter 3.

Oh, about out of time. Oh, we're out of time. I'm out of time.

So much to teach, and we're just ahead of time. There's the music gonna go right now. I don't hear it, but it should be going. Anyway, we're out of time. May the Lord bless you.

Oh, there's the music. And by His grace, we'll be back on there tomorrow. I hope that we'll talk to them. And if you got questions, give me a call then, okay? And may the Lord bless you.

Have a great evening. I'm going to God bless you. Bye. Another program powered by the Truth Network.